Indexing mechanism

ABSTRACT

An indexing mechanism for sequentially presenting each of a plurality of cassettes containing photographic film to a projection station in a film projector. The indexing mechanism includes an escapement member having two pairs of stop members that are alternately placed in and out of engagement abutments on the cassette.

I United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,787,} 15

Fischer 1 Jan. 22, 1974 [54] lNDEXlNG MECHANISM 3,512,786 5/1970 Ban274/4 F [75] Inventor: Joerg Fischer i mette m. 3,244,378 4/1966 Rost274/4 F [73] Assignee: Bell and Howell, Chicago, 11]. P i E i M ]-1Hayes [22] Filed Jan 26 2 Attorney, Agent, or FirmCharles E. Quarton[21] pp] 2095 57 ABSTRACT [52] us Cl 352/123 274/4 F An indexingmechanism for sequentially presenting 51 Im. 01.11 I IIIIIIIIITI. G0 3b21/04 each a plurality 0f Cassettes Containing [58 Field of sw.3'5'2/1'2'3 8- 274/4 F graphic film a PTOJ'eCiO Station in a filmProject- The indexing mechanism includes an escapement [56] ReferencesCited member having two pairs of stop members that are altemately placedin and out of engagement abutments UNITED STATES PATENTS on thecassette.

3,561,853 2/1971 Thevenaz 352/123 3,188,091 6/1965 4 Claims, 9 DrawingFigures Goodell 274/4 F X PATENTEI] JAN 2 2 I974 SHEET 1 BF 3 INDEXINGMECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION An aperture 16 is formed in thewell I4 and because it would include all the necessary mechanisms forextracting the film from the cassettes 12 and transporting it throughthe projector, it will be referred to as the pro- This invention relatesto film projectors and in particjection station. A pusher l8 urges thesupply toward ular to an indexing mechanism for a movie projectorcapable of handling film stored in a plurality of cassettes.

Movie projectors have been developed which project film contained in acassette. Some of these projectors are designed to accept a plurality ofcassettes, usually stacked in side by side relation, and to sequentiallyproject the film contained in each cassette. These projectors requiredan indexing mechanism to cycle the cassettes into and out of theprojection station.

Some prior projectors have included a tray or carriage into which thecassettes are placed and indexing mechanism which indexes the tray.Because of the presence of the tray a great number of parts have beenrequired and in general the prior indexing mechanisms have been quitecomplex.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To overcome the difficulties present in theprior art this invention presents an indexing mechanism which does notrequire a movable tray. Furthermore, a simplificd indexing mechanismincluding a reciprocating escapement member having two pair of stopmembers which alternately engage respective abutment members formed onthe cassette to index a supply of cassettes sequentially to theprojection station. The escapement member may be activated manually orby any suitable means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features of this invention willbecome more apparent in the following description of the preferredembodiment read in conjunction with the figures in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of an indexing mechanism constructed inaccordance with this invention having a supply of cassettes locatedtherein.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of part of FIG. 1 showing the firstcassette at the projection station.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of part of FIG. 1 showing the firstcassette at the projection station.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of part of FIG. I showing the secondcassette in an intermediate step position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of part of FIG. 1 showing the secondcassette at the projection station.

FIG. 6 is an end view of a cassette for use with this invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an escapement member for use in thisinvention.

FIG. 8 and 9 are plan views of FIG. I.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to thefigures wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts, a supplystation for a cassette loaded movie projctor is indicated generally at10. A supply of six cassettes 12 are depicted in FIG. I and arepositioned in a well 14. Because it is not necessary to an understandingof this invention the movie projector has not been illustrated. However,it would include all the necessary components for extracting film fromthe cassettes 12 and projecting them.

I of side abutments 32 extend outwardly from the lower edge of the rearface of the cassette 12.

An escapement member 24 is depicted in FIG. 7. It includes a pair offront stop members 26 and a pair of side stop members 28. Front stopmembers 26 are designed to engage abutments 30 formed in the undersideof the cassette as shown in FIG. 3. Side stop members 28 are designed toengage the abutments 32 which project from the side walls of thecassettes as shown in FIG. 2.

The escapement member 24 is mounted to the under side of the well 14. Apair of posts 34 nestle in a pair of corresponding apertures 36 formedin the well 14, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 9. The posts 34 fit looselywithin the apertures 36 so the escapement member 24 may pivot about anaxis passing approximately through the posts 34.

A pair of compression strings 38 bias the escapement member intojuxtaposition with the underside of the well 14 (FIG. 8). The side stops28 pass through apertures 40 formed in the well 14 and the front stops26 pass through apertures 42 (FIG. 9). A manually operable member 44acts through a rod 46, a lever 48 and a link 50 to reciprocate the plate24 by depressing and releasing the manual operable member 44.

INDEXING OPERATION Briefly, the supply of cassettes 12 are sequentiallypositioned at the projection aperture by depressing and releasing themanually operable .member 44. That reciprocating motion causes the frontstops 26 and the side stops 28 to alternately engage their respectiveabutments 30, 32 and index the supply through the projector.

FIG. I depicts the condition of the indexing apparatus just after asupply of cassettes 12 has been placed in the well 14. To do so thepusher 18 was slid to the right, the supply dropped into the well I4 andthe pusher I8 released. The action ofthe negator springs 20 causes thepusher to slide the supply leftwardly until the leading edge 52 of thefirst cassette 12a engages the front stops 26. It should be pointed outthat in the normal operation of the indexing mechanism the only timethat the front stops 26 engage the leading edge of a cassette is whenthe supply has first been positioned in the well. As shown in FIG. I thefirst cassette 12a is not positioned over the projection station 16.

To index the first cassette 12a into the projection station 16 themanually operable member 44 is depressed and the front stops 26 arelowered out of engagement with the leading edge 52 of the first cassette12a. The pusher 18 then acts on the supply 12 to move it leftwardlyuntil the side stops 28 engage the side abutments 32 formed on thecassettes 12. This is depicted in FIG. 2 and as can be seen therein thefirst cassette l2a has not yet reached the projection station 16. Uponreleasing the manually operable member the side stops 28 raise up andover the side abutments 32 permitting the supply 12 to move further tothe left until the front stops 26 engage the front abutments 30 asdepicted in FIG. 3. At this point the first cassette 12a is in operablerelationship with the projection stations 16.

After the film in cassette 12a is projected it would be desired tosequence the second cassette 1217 into operable relationship with theprojection station l6. To do so, once again the manually operable member44 is depressed to move the front stops 26 out of engagement with thefront abutments 30 formed on the first cassette 12a. The supply willmove leftwardly until the side stops 32 on the second cassette 12bengage the side stops 28 as shown in FIG. 4.

At this point the manually operable member is released, the escapementplate 24 rises, and the side stops 28 rise up and over the sideabutments 32 allowing the supply 12 to move leftwardly until the frontstops 26 engage the front abutments 30 on the second cassette 12b asshown in FIG. 5.

Obviously this cycle may be repeated again and again until the supply isexhausted. As the supply moves leftwardly it is supported by a rotatablearm 54 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. For this indexing mechanism tofunction properly at least one of the stop members 26, 28 must be ininterfering relationship with the travel path of its respective abutmentmembers at all times. Otherwise, the supply 12 would simply be pushedout of the well 14 upon depressing the manually operable member to aparticular point.

In this preferred embodiment the movement of the cassettes 12 may bereversed to reproject a given reel of film. In FIG.' 5, cassette 12b ispositioned at the projection station 16. If the user wished to reprojectthe film in cassette 12a he would merely slide the supply rightwardlyuntil the front stop member 26 entered the front abutments 30 ofcassette I2a. While the supply was being slid rightwardly the leadingedge of cassette 12b depressed the front stops 26 by sliding on thesloped upper surface thereof, In this manner the upper surface of thefront stops 6 acts as a cam surface.

While in this preferred embodiment the escapement plate 24 has beenillustrated as being spring biased into juxtaposition with the wll 14 itis equally apparent with an appropriate modification of the manuallyoperable member and its respective linkages the escapement plate 24could be biased out of the well 14.

Thus an improved indexing mechanism has been de scribed. It requiresneither a movable tray nor a complex mechanism to cycle a plurality ofcassettes to supply station of a cassette movie projector.

What is claimed is:

I. In a movie projector capable of projecting film contained in acassette, the indexing apparatus comprising:

a well for receiving a stack of cassettes; an aperture in said welldefining a projection station; a pusher disposed in said well;

spring means for biasing said pusher toward said projection station;

an escapement member including a generally horizontally disposed framepivoted at a rear portion thereof to the underside of said well;

a first pair of stops on said escapement member for engaging theunderside of said cassettes, said first pair of stops being disposed ona front portion of said frame;

a second pair of stops on said escapement member for engaging sideabutments on said cassettes, said second pair of stops being disposed ona side portion of said frame adjacent to said front portion of saidframe;

apertures in said well for permitting said stops to pass therethrough;

spring means for biasing said first pair of stops into said well; and

manually operable means for reciprocating said escapement member suchthat said first and second stops alternately engage said cassettes andsaid cassettes sequentially are positioned at said projection station.

2. The indexing apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper surfaceof said first pair of stops is sloped to permit reprojection of acassette.

3. In a film projector, the combination comprising:

a well for receiving a supply of film containing cassettes stacked inside-by-side relation, said cassettes including a first abutment meanson a side edge thereof and a second abutment means on the undersidethereof;

an aperture in said well defining a projection station;

means in said well for urging said supply of cassettes toward saidprojection station;

an escapement member including a generally horizontally idsposed framepivoted at a rear portion thereof to the underside of said well andincluding side stop means and front stop means for alternately engagingsaid first abutment means and said second abutment means, respectively,said front stop means being disposed on a front portion of said frame,said side stop means being disposed on a side portion of said frameadjacent to said front portion of said frame; and

means for pivoting said escapement member from a normal position to alowered position, said pivoting means lowering said front stop means outof engagement with said second abutment means on the underside of saidcassette and lowering said side stop means into engagement with saidfirst abut ment means on the side of said cassettes.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein an upper surface of said frontstop means is sloped to permit reprojection of a cassette.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 787115 Dated Jan ZZ 1974 l og) JOERGI FISCHER v It is certified that errorappears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent arehereby corrected as shown below:

IN THE SPECIFICATION Column 1, 1ine 61, after "movie", change "projctor"to --projector--.

Column 3, 1ine45,- after "stops", change "6" 'to '--26--.

Column 3, line 4 8, after "the", change "wll" to -well-.

IN THE CLAIMS Column 4, line 40;change "idsposed" to "disposed".

Signed and sealed this 11th day of June 1971 (SEAL) Atteat:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents F ORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376d=69 1: nos. sovznmumram-nus OFFICE IS" o-au-su,

CI JNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,787,115 Dated Jan. 22 1974 lnv og) JOERG' FISCHER It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

IN THE SPECIFICATION Column 1, 1ine' 61, after "movie", change"projctor" to --projector-.

Column'S, line'4 5,- after "stops", change"-'6" 'to '-26--.

Column 3, lir Ie after "the"; change wl'l'" to- -"well--- IN THE CLAIMS:

Column 4, lirIe 40;change "idspose d" to "disposed".

Signed and sealed this 11th day of June 1971;.

(SEAL) Atteat:

EDWARD M.FLE'1CHER,JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents FORM PO-1050 (10-69) 'USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 v we GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE I969 0-366-384,

1. In a movie projector capable of projecting film contained in acassette, the indexing apparatus comprising: a well for receiving astack of cassettes; an aperture in said well defining a projectionstation; a pusher disposed in said well; spring means for biasing saidpusher toward said projection station; an escapement member including agenerally horizontally disposed frame pivoted at a rear portion thereofto the underside of said well; a first pair of stops on said escapementmember for engaging the underside of said cassettes, said first pair ofstops being disposed on a front portion of said frame; a second pair ofstops on said escapement member for engaging side abutments on saidcassettes, said second pair of stops being disposed on a side portion ofsaid frame adjacent to said front portion of said frame; apertures insaid well for permitting said stops to pass therethrough; spring meansfor biasing said first pair of stops into said well; and manuallyoperable means for reciprocating said escapement member such that saidfirst and second stops alternately engage said cassettes and saidcassettes sequentially are positioned at said projection station.
 2. Theindexing apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper surface ofsaid first pair of stops is sloped to permit reprojection of a cassette.3. In a film projector, the combination comprising: a well for receivinga supply of film containing cassettes stacked in side-by-side relation,said cassettes including a first abutment means on a side edge thereofand a second abutment means on the underside thereof; an aperture insaid well defining a projection station; means in said well for urgingsaid supply of cassettes toward said projection station; an escapementmember including a generally horizontally idsposed frame pivoted at arear portion thereof to the underside of said well and including sidestop means and fRont stop means for alternately engaging said firstabutment means and said second abutment means, respectively, said frontstop means being disposed on a front portion of said frame, said sidestop means being disposed on a side portion of said frame adjacent tosaid front portion of said frame; and means for pivoting said escapementmember from a normal position to a lowered position, said pivoting meanslowering said front stop means out of engagement with said secondabutment means on the underside of said cassette and lowering said sidestop means into engagement with said first abutment means on the side ofsaid cassettes.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein an upper surfaceof said front stop means is sloped to permit reprojection of a cassette.